BAE Systems has announced the appointment of Dean McCumiskey as managing director and chief executive of its India operations with effect from March 2012.

McCumiskey is currently group chief information officer based in the company's London headquarters and will succeed Andrew Gallagher who takes up new responsibilities as BAE Systems' director of audit, based in the United Kingdom.

BAE saiod in a statement that McCumiskey would be responsible for leading the next phase of BAE Systems' business development in India. BAE has two joint ventures, Defence Land Systems India (DLSI), a land systems focused company operated in partnership with Mahindra and Mahindra, and BAeHAL, a software engineering joint venture with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

"McCumiskey has deep experience of the global defence, aerospace and security industry, having held senior management positions in both the US and Europe," BAE's statement said.

"Prior to taking up the role of Chief Information Officer, he was responsible for business winning activities in Europe, Canada and South America, leading multi-million dollar campaigns covering the air, land, maritime and security sectors."

Andrew Gallagher, returns to BAE Systems' London-based headquarters at the end of his two year placement.